Thought for the Day

Proverbs reveals many spiritual principles that govern life, even the capacity to invent. Previously hidden knowledge inspires ideas that birth "witty inventions." This knowledge can be discovered through wisdom and prudence. Prudent is defined as the capability of exercising sound judgment in practical matters, especially concerning one's own interests. Bible study enlightens our minds to receive new ideas. Many of the world's great inventions and discoveries came to those who kept a close relationship with God.

The tremendously talented George Washington Carver was the child of slaves. He invented more than 300 products from the peanut, 118 from the sweet potato, and 75 from the pecan. His discoveries increased the South's income by millions of dollars. Concerning his "witty inventions" he wrote the following: "The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible. I prayed that my life and work had helped in a small way to make the world peaceful and make [God] happy."

Sir Isaac Newton, a devout Christian of the 1600's, was another great scientist. He discovered how the universe holds together through the force of gravity, developed the branch of mathematics known as calculus, and discovered secrets of light and color. He is described as one of the greatest names in the history of human thought. How did he discover so many "witty inventions?" The key to his success is found in these quotes: "I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily" and "Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance."

Christopher Columbus's greatest discovery was not the New World, but the discovery of God's ways. He desired to explore the world to find new lands and proclaim Christ to the peoples there. This little-known fact was the motivation behind his adventurous life. An excerpt from one of his letters reveals his faith: "At this time I read and studied all kinds of literature: cosmography, histories, chronicles, and philosophy and other arts, to which our Lord opened my mind unmistakably to the fact that it was possible to navigate from here to the Indies, and He evoked in me the will for the execution of it...Who would doubt that this light did not come from the Holy Spirit...which comforted with rays of marvelous clarity and its Holy and Sacred Scriptures."

From these examples of great men, we see that they gained insight from God through studying the Bible. Some secular historians omit any mention of the commitment to God that made these men successful. Our children are denied the right to know the full story in their history books. They need to know that "witty inventions" are possible because of the wisdom that God gives.